Xians believe Jesus walked on water. The Gospels don't agree on the story. Mark wrote that after Jesus finished prayer (6:46), he came down the mountain to find the ship containing his disciples in trouble. Jesus went to the ship; “he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them (v. 48). But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit. (v. 49 KJV).
Two questions come to mind. (1) If Jesus was god and part of the Trinity, who was he praying to on the mountain? Was God praying to himself in Mark 6:46? (2) Jesus saw his disciples in trouble, why would he want to pass by them in verse 48?
Matthew and John copied Mark’s story but left out Jesus “passed by them”. It did not make any sense for Jesus to pass by them knowing they were in trouble.
Shmuel Golding in his “The Light of Reason” volume 3 brings up two strong questions. He writes that Mark and Luke can’t agree where the disciples were going. Mark wrote they were going to the other side, Bethsaida, while Luke tells us very clearly that they were already in Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). John says, no they went towards Capernaum (6:17) and Matthew said they went into the land of Gennesaret (14:34).
Golding continues; “Furthermore none of these writers can agree on just how far Jesus walked on the water. Did he walk right across the sea or only half way across? Both Matthew and Mark are of the opinion that Jesus caught up with the boat in the midst of the sea, but John makes it appear that he walked the whole way across and caught up to them as they were coming near to the land (John 6:19-21.
Then Golding teaches us something important. “For those who understand the Greek text there is no problem in interpreting this story. John’s gospel records that when the disciples received Jesus into the ship; it was already at the land. They saw Jesus walking, not on the sea, but beside the sea as the Greek word ‘ept’ indicates.
In the dictionary, ‘epi’ is a preposition which can mean - in, - on, - alongside, or - beside.” In common Greek, the term "ep-" usually did refer to "alongside", since there was a more common slang term used for such.
The story makes more sense with the true translation of thw word. Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in a ship and arrived by walking around the lake at the same time as them. Their surprise on seeing him caused them to wonder what kind of a man is this who can walk faster than we can row. They probably rowed one length of the boat only to be driven back two, because all the gospels claim there was a great storm at sea. Jesus probably thought it was safer and quicker to walk beside the lake than to go across it in a boat so he walked to the other side on dry land.”
Use of the word 'epi-' means ON! This is what Strong's Lexicon, a reference much used by fundamentalist Xians. However, you have to remember that Strong's is Xian in origin and supports Xian selling points for its use in among Xians. On page 1909 is says; epi epi ep-ee’ a root; ; prep AV-on 196, in 120, upon 159, unto 41, to 41, misc. 339; 896
According to this, you could present the incident of Jesus walking on the water in several different ways. Xians just want to make Jesus perform yet another miracle, forgetting the verses in Deuteronomy about the false prophet.
In-as-much, no one has proven Jesus, if he did exist was nothing more than a man, the Greek word ‘epi’ meaning alongside of fits this story. Therefore, as written, it could be correctly used BOTH ways, depends on which what message you want to present.
"Alongside of" is more logical and makes sense. However, if you want to make someone magical, you would use "on".
Since the NT was actually written for pagan Gentiles, a magical person would bring visions of "dancing fairies upon the pond", something uneducated minds would understand.
This appears to be another Greek interpretation by the KJV to promote their magical, myth of Jesus - which they interpret to suit their cause. Notice how Xians pick and choose bits and pieces of other writings to show Jesus with super powers, as being a deity - another pagan concept of a demigod. It's just another myth of how Jesus had super-powers over nature.
Excerpted from Xianity-Revealed
Two questions come to mind. (1) If Jesus was god and part of the Trinity, who was he praying to on the mountain? Was God praying to himself in Mark 6:46? (2) Jesus saw his disciples in trouble, why would he want to pass by them in verse 48?
Matthew and John copied Mark’s story but left out Jesus “passed by them”. It did not make any sense for Jesus to pass by them knowing they were in trouble.
Shmuel Golding in his “The Light of Reason” volume 3 brings up two strong questions. He writes that Mark and Luke can’t agree where the disciples were going. Mark wrote they were going to the other side, Bethsaida, while Luke tells us very clearly that they were already in Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). John says, no they went towards Capernaum (6:17) and Matthew said they went into the land of Gennesaret (14:34).
Golding continues; “Furthermore none of these writers can agree on just how far Jesus walked on the water. Did he walk right across the sea or only half way across? Both Matthew and Mark are of the opinion that Jesus caught up with the boat in the midst of the sea, but John makes it appear that he walked the whole way across and caught up to them as they were coming near to the land (John 6:19-21.
Then Golding teaches us something important. “For those who understand the Greek text there is no problem in interpreting this story. John’s gospel records that when the disciples received Jesus into the ship; it was already at the land. They saw Jesus walking, not on the sea, but beside the sea as the Greek word ‘ept’ indicates.
In the dictionary, ‘epi’ is a preposition which can mean - in, - on, - alongside, or - beside.” In common Greek, the term "ep-" usually did refer to "alongside", since there was a more common slang term used for such.
The story makes more sense with the true translation of thw word. Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in a ship and arrived by walking around the lake at the same time as them. Their surprise on seeing him caused them to wonder what kind of a man is this who can walk faster than we can row. They probably rowed one length of the boat only to be driven back two, because all the gospels claim there was a great storm at sea. Jesus probably thought it was safer and quicker to walk beside the lake than to go across it in a boat so he walked to the other side on dry land.”
Use of the word 'epi-' means ON! This is what Strong's Lexicon, a reference much used by fundamentalist Xians. However, you have to remember that Strong's is Xian in origin and supports Xian selling points for its use in among Xians. On page 1909 is says; epi epi ep-ee’ a root; ; prep AV-on 196, in 120, upon 159, unto 41, to 41, misc. 339; 896
According to this, you could present the incident of Jesus walking on the water in several different ways. Xians just want to make Jesus perform yet another miracle, forgetting the verses in Deuteronomy about the false prophet.
In-as-much, no one has proven Jesus, if he did exist was nothing more than a man, the Greek word ‘epi’ meaning alongside of fits this story. Therefore, as written, it could be correctly used BOTH ways, depends on which what message you want to present.
"Alongside of" is more logical and makes sense. However, if you want to make someone magical, you would use "on".
Since the NT was actually written for pagan Gentiles, a magical person would bring visions of "dancing fairies upon the pond", something uneducated minds would understand.
This appears to be another Greek interpretation by the KJV to promote their magical, myth of Jesus - which they interpret to suit their cause. Notice how Xians pick and choose bits and pieces of other writings to show Jesus with super powers, as being a deity - another pagan concept of a demigod. It's just another myth of how Jesus had super-powers over nature.
Excerpted from Xianity-Revealed
